The Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) held a visiting scholar’s seminar with Dr. S. A. Igbatayo from Afe Babalola University, Nigeria at the KIEP conference room in Sejong on August 9, 2022. Dr. S. A. Igbatayo has participated in the KIEP Visiting Scholars Program for a month. The seminar was organized to share results of research activity conducted over his visiting period, jointly with other researchers at KIEP. 

Dr. S. A. Igbatayo made a presentation on “The Emergence of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and Lessons from the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)” and examined the evolution of preferential trade agreements, the emergence of AfCFTA and APTA, and lessons from the APTA. The emergence of APTA as a robust preferential trade agreement, comprising emerging market economies and least developed countries provides useful lessons for the implication of the AfCFTA. The lessons drawn from APTA are its implementation approaches, diversity of membership, and structural transformation of tradable goods. 

KIEP experts including Dr. Seoni Han and Ms. Minji Jeong from Africa and Middle East Team, Mr. Jun-Hyun Eom from New Trade Strategy Team, attended the seminar and discussed the findings covered in the presentation. 

- Topic: The Emergence of African Continental Free Trade Agreement and Lessons from the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement 

- Date & Time: August 9 (Tue) 10:30-11:30 

- Venue: KIEP meeting room 201

- Speaker: S. A. Igbatayo, Professor, Department of Economics, Afe Babalola University, Nigeria 

- Contact: Injee Yoo, Researcher, Center for Area Studies (ijyoo@kiep.go.kr)